Shovels, snowblowers, and plows are great for removing snow from your walkway, but what happens when ice has covered your entire driveway and sidewalk? You could salt your walkway, but many urban countries make it compulsory for residents to keep their driveways and residence free of ice so that no accidents occur.
For people living in places where the temperature falls very low in the winter months, ice and snow melters are necessary. This article has compiled the best ice and snow melters for your walkway, depending on the performance, quality, and versatility that you are looking for.
1. Green Gobbler 96% Pure Calcium Chloride Snow and Ice Melt Pellets
The best ice and snow melter in all aspects, this product will quickly clean up your walkway and driveway to make it functional again. The good thing is that it can get rid of ice in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, it is an efficient product that does not take too much time to do its job. Calcium chloride, one of the main ingredients of this product, works best in low temperatures.
Moreover, you can use this ice melter as it is or mix it in warm water to make a quick spray that can be used anywhere around your house. Even with a minimal amount, it can do a lot of damage to the accumulated ice and snow.
Remember, calcium chloride is a versatile ingredient that can also be used to get rid of dust in your driveway. This means that even when winter is over, you can use the pellets to control the dust on your property.
2. Blue Heat Snow and Ice Melter
If you want to know where you have used the product, you can opt for the Blue Heat Snow and Ice Melter. This unique melter has a light-blue tint, which aids visibility. It is made up of a number of ingredients, including sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and ferric chloride.
The exact quantities of each of the ingredients are not mentioned. However, we know that this melter contains 52 percent of calcium chloride, which is more than sufficient to get rid of ice and snow in temperatures as low as –25 degrees Fahrenheit.
This blend is environmentally safe and does not damage concrete, plants, or animals, so you do not have to worry if you have pets playing in the snow! Moreover, the blue tint will allow you to use the melter only in the necessary areas.
3. Snow Joe Professional Strength Calcium Chloride Pellets
Looking for someone on a budget? We’ve got you covered! This melter is purely made up of calcium chloride- more accurately, 94 percent calcium chloride. According to the company, it can be used in temperatures as low as –25 degrees Fahrenheit.
The best thing about these pellets is that they can create heat for 24-hours when close to snow and ice. It comes in a resealable bag, which makes it super easy to store and handle. The best way to use this melter is to put the pellets in a bucket and cover it with a lid once the bag has been opened.
4. Pellets of Fire Snow and Ice Melter
Dart Seasonal Products of New Jersey came up with this magnificent melter that has a calcium chloride concentration of more than 90 percent. This means that you can use it in temperatures of –25 degrees Fahrenheit and more. The good thing about this melter is that even a little bit is extremely effective, and it prevents the pathway or driveway from refreezing.
Even though some might find this product a little on the pricier side, you can get away with using it just a bit because it is stronger than other products. Moreover, since it comes in a bucket, you do not have to worry about storing it properly.
However, we would advise you to be careful with these pellets in case you have pets. If they get stuck in the paws of dogs or cats, they can cause discomfort.
5. Play Safe’s Ice Blocker
Do you have pets in your house? If yes, this melter is made for you! Not only will it not cause harm to your lovely pets, but it will also not damage your concrete and vehicles. What makes it different from all the other products is that it does not contain calcium chloride. Instead, this melter is made up of calcium magnesium acetate- one of the safest salts available in the market.
The only drawback is that it works as an ice-preventer and is not the best product to use if you live in areas where it gets colder than –15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Play Safe’s Ice Blocker is stored in a jug, making it super user-friendly. Moreover, since it contains organic ingredients, it will not cause any harm to concrete, metal, or vehicles in your house.
Choosing the Correct Ice and Snow Melt
There are many different types of salts that you will find in the market. Below is an essential guide to help make you make your decision:
Calcium Chloride (CaC12)
This is a super popular ingredient in the market because it is effective in low temperatures, including –40 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if used in excess, it can damage the plants and grass in your house.
Magnesium Chloride
This is an environment-friendly ingredient that is safe for pets too. It is useful in areas where the temperature falls to –13 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it may spoil asphalt, concrete, and plants.
Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA)
This is not as corrosive as other salts that contain chloride. However, it only works at temperatures around 20 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
Rock Salt
You may be tempted to opt for this due to its inexpensive nature, but it can damage any surface it is used on, and if pets ingest it, it can cause lifetime damage. Moreover, it is not effective in low temperatures.
Potassium Chloride
Even though this is safe to be used around pet animals, it harms plants and grass. Moreover, it works well in temperatures of 25 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
Urea/ Carbonyl Diamide
One of the safest ingredients that can be used around animals, this is also great for the environment. However, it is not our best choice for de-icing purposes.
When using ice and snow melters, remember to only target spots where you want to remove the ice and snow. Moreover, when you are satisfied, and all the snow has melted away, sweep up any leftover salt so that it is not ingested by pets and does not cause damage to children!
